Political Circle
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"The state should stay out of people's wallets and private lives — live and let live"
At 5 o'clock, you want the state mostly out of people's lives — economically and socially. Live and let live. You back civil liberties and economic freedom together. Rules should be minimal, transparent and evenly applied. You're deeply suspicious of authority telling people how to live or what to do with their money.
You're staunchly individualist: people should be free to pursue happiness as they see fit, as long as they don't harm others. Voluntary cooperation and markets should do most of the work. Government's role is to protect basic rights and freedoms, then get out of the way.
Your position at 5 o'clock tells us your direction, but how far you are from the centre tells us the strength of your convictions. The Political Circle recognises three levels:
"Maximum freedom—but accept some pragmatic limits"
Close to centre, you prioritise liberty but remain pragmatic. You want minimal government in both economic and social spheres, but you'll accept limited intervention for clear problems. You value freedom highly but recognize that pure libertarianism has practical challenges. Your instinct is liberty; your method is pragmatic.
Historical example: Classical liberals balancing strong libertarian instincts with recognition of some legitimate government functions.
"Liberty in all spheres—economic and personal"
At medium distance, you have strong libertarian convictions across the board. You want dramatic reductions in government power: economic deregulation, tax cuts, drug legalisation, free speech protection, privacy rights. You believe in voluntary cooperation, not state coercion. Liberty should be the overwhelming presumption in both markets and personal life.
Historical example: Consistent libertarians like Milton Friedman—free markets plus free people.
"Voluntary cooperation—replace government with markets"
Far from centre, you're uncompromising about liberty to the point of anarchism. You want to eliminate or drastically minimize the state. Private property, voluntary exchange and individual sovereignty should replace government functions wherever possible. Taxation is theft. Regulation is oppression. Even services like courts and security could be privatised. Maximum freedom, minimum state—or no state at all.
Historical example: Anarcho-capitalists like Murray Rothbard—advocating voluntary society without coercive government.
Libertarian philosopher
Nozick's "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" defended minimal government and self-ownership. He argued for entitlement theory — that just acquisition and transfer create legitimate holdings — and championed a "night-watchman state" limited to protecting rights. His work defines modern libertarian philosophy at 5 o'clock.
Novelist and philosopher
Rand's novels "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" celebrated individualism, rational self-interest and laissez-faire capitalism. Her philosophy of Objectivism rejected altruistic duty and championed voluntary cooperation. Her fierce defence of individual rights against collectivism embodies 5 o'clock thinking.
Libertarian Party presidential candidate and former Governor
Johnson combined fiscal conservatism with social liberalism: lower taxes, marijuana legalisation, marriage equality and non-intervention abroad. His "socially liberal, fiscally conservative" platform — maximum freedom across the board — defines the 5 o'clock position in American politics.
Magician, author and libertarian advocate
Jillette champions individual liberty, scepticism of authority and personal responsibility. His libertarian advocacy combines opposition to drug prohibition, support for LGBTQ+ rights and scepticism of government programmes. His accessible, principled defence of freedom typifies modern 5 o'clock thinking.
Writer and founder of American libertarianism
Lane's "The Discovery of Freedom" argued that individual liberty, not collective planning, drives progress. She championed self-reliance, free markets and minimal government. Her influence on modern libertarian thought and her defence of liberty against New Deal collectivism shaped 5 o'clock ideology.
The new book, 'Beyond Left and Right: Understanding the Political Circle' is now available on Amazon.
Containing a wealth of information, the book explores all of the 12 philosophical positions with detailed analysis on each of the three levels.